Intervention 3The Sensewalk

Vicki’s Experiences

As soon as the blindfold was placed on I instantly felt sick. I felt like I had lost my sense of balance and my head was moving from side to side.

I tried to picture the campus as a map in my mind to make myself less disorientated which relaxed me. I felt more connected to my mind as I was constantly talking to myself and thinking about where I was and what was around me

My hearing was significantly heightened on my side and cars etc sounded louder and closer than they were. On my partners side it seemed further away as there was a physical barrier between me and the noise.

• My partner took me inside which was a terrifying experience. It felt very claustrophobic and all the noises seemed to be echoing off the walls making it extremely loud. It made me more disorientated as I couldn’t concentrate on anything except the noise.

• I asked to be taken outside where I instantly felt more relaxed.

• My partner had complete control which made me feel more uneasy and helpless

• Being outside afterwards was much easier. I fell off the pavement at one point as I had completely given up my power to my partner and I didn’t need to think about the physical process of walking so I started daydreaming.

Becky’s Experiences

• I feel very uneasy throughout the walk and a bit redundant

• At the beginning I thought it felt like we were walking on the road, and when I ask my partner, Vicki informs me that yes we are indeed walking up the road and not the pavement.

• It is obvious from the outset I have little choice in where we go as I would of chosen the footpath.

• I am highly reliant on my partner’s sight to walk so the balance of power is firmly in their hands.

• Everything is a lot louder and feels more immediate.

• Cars driving past feel inches away from me, even after my partner assures me they are at least 5 metres away, I don’t feel safe without my sight.

• I am very aware of what my feet are doing and focus carefully on changes in the terrain a.k.a. the road surface for fear of tripping and changes in slope height are a lot more apparent.

• I felt I could work out on campus where we were through my sense of direction and physical features for example steps, terrain and slope changes.

• However when I finally took my blindfold off I was thrown when we were stood outside the Library and not the Munrow gym.

• I felt a lot more comfortable picturing my reality even though that was not necessarily where I in fact was. By putting where I was walking into context I felt safer.